Sunday – 25 October 2026

Today God’s Word gives us a very simple but powerful message: “Serve God with Humble Hearts.” We all want to serve God. We come to church, we pray, we sing, we read the Bible, we give offerings and we participate in various activities of the Church. All these things are important. But today’s Scripture asks us a deeper question: What kind of heart do we have when we serve God? God is not interested only in what we do. He is also interested in why we do it and how we treat other people. We can perform religious activities and still have a proud heart. We can pray loudly but ignore a suffering neighbour. We can give offerings but refuse to help someone who is hungry. We can speak about God’s love but fail to show love to the person standing next to us. The message of today’s readings is clear: True service to God comes from a humble heart and expresses itself in love and practical service to others.

True Worship Is a Life of Compassion

In Isaiah 58, the people of Israel were asking God why He was not responding to their fasting. They were fasting and seeking God, but God pointed out something wrong in their lives. They were practising religious activities while treating others unjustly. God says through Isaiah: “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice... to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter?” This is a very important lesson. God does not reject prayer or fasting. But He rejects religious practice that is separated from love, justice and compassion. We can come to church every Sunday, but if we have hatred in our heart towards our neighbour, something is wrong. We can pray for one hour, but if we refuse to forgive someone, something is wrong. We can sing beautiful songs of worship, but if we ignore a hungry person at our doorstep, something is wrong. True worship must eventually become a life of love. Jesus said in Mark 12:30–31 that the greatest commandments are to love God and to love our neighbour. We cannot separate these two. If we truly love God, that love will begin to affect the way we treat people.

A Humble Heart Sees the Needs of Others

Psalm 112 describes the person who fears the Lord. Such a person is generous, compassionate and concerned about others. The psalm says: “Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.” It also says that the righteous “have freely scattered their gifts to the poor.” A humble heart does not ask, “What will I get?” It asks, “What can I give?” In a village community, we see many opportunities to serve. There may be an elderly person living alone. There may be a sick neighbour who needs someone to take them to the hospital. There may be a family struggling to buy food. There may be a child who needs educational help. There may be a widow who needs encouragement. There may be someone who has lost a loved one and simply needs someone to sit beside them. Sometimes we think that serving God requires a great ministry, a big organisation or a special position in the Church. But sometimes serving God means taking a meal to a sick neighbour. Sometimes it means visiting someone in hospital. Sometimes it means helping an elderly person. Sometimes it means listening to someone who is lonely. Sometimes it means forgiving someone who has hurt us. Small acts of love can become great acts of service in the sight of God.

Serve Others Without Pride

Galatians 6 gives us another important teaching. Paul says: “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.” Notice the word “gently.” When someone falls, a proud person points a finger. A humble Christian reaches out a hand. We should never forget our own weakness. Paul says, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.” What is the law of Christ? It is the law of love. Everyone carries some kind of burden. One person may carry a financial burden. Another may carry a family burden. Another may carry sickness. Another may carry loneliness. Another may carry guilt or failure. Another may be struggling with temptation. We may not know what another person is going through. Therefore, let us not be quick to judge. Instead of saying, “Why did you do this?” let us sometimes ask, “How can I help you?” Instead of condemning someone who has fallen, let us help restore that person. Instead of talking about someone’s weakness, let us pray for them. Humility means remembering that we also depend upon God’s grace.

When We Serve People, We Serve Christ

The Gospel reading in Matthew 25 gives us perhaps the strongest teaching about Christian service. Jesus describes the final judgement. He speaks about people who fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, welcomed strangers, clothed the needy, cared for the sick and visited those in prison. Then the King says: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” This is the key verse for today’s message. What a wonderful truth! When we serve someone in need, Jesus says that we are serving Him. Perhaps you did not realise that when you visited that sick person, you were visiting Christ. Perhaps you did not realise that when you gave food to someone who was hungry, you were serving Christ. Perhaps you did not realise that when you helped a poor family, you were serving Christ. Perhaps you did not realise that when you comforted someone who was grieving, you were ministering to Christ. The people in the story were surprised. They asked, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you?” They did not even realise the significance of their service. That is an important characteristic of genuine humility. A humble person does not serve in order to be noticed. A proud person asks, “Did anyone see what I did?” A humble person says, “God saw it. That is enough.” Jesus teaches us that God sees what others may never see.

Conclusion

Dear brothers and sisters, God is calling us today to serve Him with humble hearts. Isaiah teaches us that genuine worship must include compassion and justice. Psalm 112 teaches us that the righteous person is generous and concerned about the poor. Galatians teaches us to carry one another’s burdens and restore those who have fallen with gentleness. Matthew 25 teaches us that when we serve those in need, we serve Christ Himself. Therefore, let us ask ourselves some simple questions. Is there someone I can help? Is there someone I need to forgive? Is there someone who needs encouragement? Is there a hungry person I can feed? Is there a sick person I can visit? Is there someone who has fallen whom I can gently restore? Is there a lonely person who needs a friend? Do not wait for a great opportunity. Start with the person God has placed near you. Jesus does not ask us to become famous. He asks us to become faithful. He does not ask us to impress people. He asks us to love people. He does not ask us to serve with pride. He asks us to serve with humility. And when we serve the least, the forgotten and the suffering, Jesus tells us: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these... you did for me.” May our churches become places of worship and service. May our homes become places of compassion. May our villages become communities where people care for one another. And may our lives demonstrate the love of Jesus wherever we go. Let us serve God - not with proud hearts seeking recognition, but with humble hearts overflowing with love.

Concluding Prayer

Gracious and loving Heavenly Father, We thank You for Your Word that reminds us that true worship is not only what we say inside the church, but also how we live outside the church. Forgive us, Lord, for the times when we have been more concerned about religious activities than about people who are suffering around us. Forgive us when we have judged others instead of helping them, and when we have sought recognition instead of serving with humility. Give us the heart of Jesus. Open our eyes to see the hungry, the poor, the sick, the lonely, the elderly, the forgotten and those who are carrying heavy burdens. Give us willing hands to help them, loving hearts to comfort them, generous spirits to share with them and humble hearts to serve them. Teach us to carry one another’s burdens. When someone falls, help us not to condemn but to restore gently. When someone is hurting, help us not to turn away but to come alongside them. Lord Jesus, help us remember Your words: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” May we see Your face in those who suffer. May we serve You by serving others. May our homes, our churches and our communities become places where Your love is seen and experienced. Take away our pride and selfishness. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit and make our lives instruments of Your love. May everything we do bring glory to Your holy name. In the precious name of Jesus Christ our Lord, we pray. Amen.